Sunday, November 02, 2008

Blue Angels Lose Jet After 2 Members Removed for Inappropriate Relationship

The Associated Press reported on Friday that the famed Navy flight demonstration team will be down one F/A-18 Hornet for the rest of its season after two members were removed from duty for an inappropriate relationship.

Captain Tyson Dunkelberger, BA public affairs officer, said Thursday that the squadron will finish its last three airshows with five jets instead of six (See schedule at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2007/12/us-navy-blue-angels-2008-schedule.html ).

Dunkelberger did not identify the two members involved, but said the relationship was between a man and a woman. All seven of the F/A-18 pilots are men, and 23 of the squadron's 133 members are women.

Dunkelberger says a military administrative hearing will be held to determine what further disciplinary actions will be carried out by the unit, which could include removal from the military.